1 Kings 15:18

15:18 Asa took all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of the Lord’s temple and of the royal palace and handed it to his servants. He then told them to deliver it ¹  to Ben Hadad son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, ruler in Damascus, along with this message:

1 Kings 20:34

20:34 Ben Hadad ²  said, “I will return the cities my father took from your father. You may set up markets ³  in Damascus, just as my father did in Samaria.” ⁴  Ahab then said, “I want to make a treaty with you before I dismiss you.” ⁵  So he made a treaty with him and then dismissed him.

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¹ tn Heb “King Asa sent it.”

² tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ben Hadad) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

³ tn Heb “streets,” but this must refer to streets set up with stalls for merchants to sell their goods. See HALOT 299 s.v. חוּץ.

⁴ map For location see Map2-B1; Map4-D3; Map5-E2; Map6-A4; Map7-C1.

⁵ tn Heb “I will send you away with a treaty.” The words “Ahab then said” are supplied in the translation. There is nothing in the Hebrew text to indicate that the speaker has changed from Ben Hadad to Ahab. Some suggest adding “and he said” before “I will send you away.” Others prefer to maintain Ben Hadad as the speaker and change the statement to, “Please send me away with a treaty.”